The Pixie of Bixby Knolls
05/17/2022 by Tina Manzer Heather Rasmussen’s toy store in Long Beach, California, began as just four IKEA shelves-worth of toys set up in a…
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Empowering Kids Through Play
03/21/2022 by Michael Nocella Pippi Longstocking, the nine-year-old adventurer in Astrid Lindgren’s beloved books, has inspired pretend play for more than 75 years. From…
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Hot Toys – How Mildred & Dildred Became the Go-To Toy Shop in Tucson
01/12/2022 by Michael Nocella If you happen to find yourself in Arizona’s second-largest city, be sure to stop in at Mildred & Dildred. It’s…
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Friends in High Places
10/12/2021 by Tina Manzer In 2013, Patrick Holland and his wife Joanna purchased Mountain Top Toys, a then 21-year-old store in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. …
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Small Business Big Future
07/13/2021 An Ohio toy-store owner and Comedian Dave Chappelle team up to promote community and small businesses by Melody Burri When it comes to…
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So Many Dolls to Love
05/04/2021 Pattycake Doll Company (BestDollsForKids.com) is an online store only, and its owners, Peter and Addie Laudin, are typical independent retailers. by Tina Manzer…
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Good Things Happen If You Play Your Cards Right
02/15/2021 A twist on tradition saved two retailers from getting lost in the shuffle by Sandy Ruben “How can I help somebody today?” Asking…
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Sir Troy: King of Toys
11/19/20 by Tina Manzer Troy Cefaratti just opened his second toy store; his second 9,000-square-foot toy store. They’re both in Ohio – the original…
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Grayce Notes
11/19/20 by Tina Manzer Touch of Grayce in Geneseo, New York, is celebrating 25 years in business. The store has occupied the same 2,000-square-foot…
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Survivors of the Stay-At-Home Summer 3 Toy Store Stories
09/10/2020 by Tina Manzer 1. “I think fourth quarter will be bonkers – we need to prepare now for the onslaught,” commented Sarah Evers,…
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